Starship Scorpion (The Galactic Wars Book 1) by Ellis Tripp

Author:Ellis, Tripp [Ellis, Tripp]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2016-06-10T04:00:00+00:00

25

It was like coming out of slide-space into an asteroid field. Bits of metal and debris littered the star field.

“Bishop, check the coordinates,” Slade said.

“Sir, we’re in the right place. This debris is the station at Cygnus 9.”

Slade grimaced and exchanged a look with Rourke. “Have you heard back from JPOC?”

“No,” Rourke said. “We’re pretty far out, plus the slide-space travel is making communication difficult.”

Sometimes communication between sectors could take weeks, unless they were in range of a direct relay.

“Send another transmission to JPOC that Cygnus 9 has been destroyed.”

“Aye, sir.”

An alarm sounded, and the LRADDS display flashed. Bishop’s excited voice shouted, “New contact bearing 020.”

“Verge?” Slade asked.

“Unknown. No Federation IFF.”

“Blast it out of space,” Slade said.

“Sir, LRADDS has identified the craft as an older SK-297 shuttle.”

“A ship that size couldn’t do this kind of damage,” Rourke said.

“See if you can establish voice communications,” Slade said.

“Aye, sir,” Bishop responded. “Unidentified SK-297, this is the USS Scorpion. Please identify, or face destruction.”

Static crackled over the comm frequency.

“Repeat. This is the USS Scorpion. Unidentified shuttle, respond or face destruction. If your comm system is down, hold your position and waggle your wings.”

There was no response, only static. Bishop put the small craft on the main display in the CIC. After a moment, the shuttle slowed and rolled its wings from side to side, vigorously.

“Sir?” Bishop asked, not sure of what to do next.

“The lack of a UPDF IFF could be a result of a bad transmitter, or it could be something else,” Rourke said. “Pirates. Mercenaries. You name it.”

“Bishop, I want to know everything there is to know about that ship.”

“Yes, sir.” Bishop scanned the ship. “Sensors indicate there are two lifeforms aboard. These guys have seen some recent action. I’m detecting blast residue on their outer hull.”

The shuttle began signaling the Scorpion by flashing its running lights, using morse code. Bishop watched the display for a moment. “Sir, they’re claiming to be from the UNS Arcturus.”

Even though morse code was an ancient communication system, Slade knew it well. There wasn’t much occasion to use it in deep space, but every now and then it came in handy. She didn’t need Bishop to translate, but she let him do his job.

“They are claiming their ship was hijacked and destroyed. They escaped on this shuttle.”

“Ask them for the ID code of the Arcturus.”

Bishop relayed the message. A few moments later, the shuttle responded. The number matched the code Bishop found in the database. “It checks out, sir.”

Slade considered this for a moment. Her face was pensive. “What are they doing out here?”

Bishop signaled the shuttle again. “The Arcturus was delivering supplies to Cygnus 9. After the attack, this was the closest outpost.”

“Lock our guns on the shuttle. Clear them for landing on the flight deck. If they so much as fart, shoot them down.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I want a full security detail on the flight deck.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Sir, do you think this is a good idea?” Rourke asked.

“If those are UPDF military, we have an obligation to provide assistance.

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